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 Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 060216045-6045-01; I.D. 091806A]
 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
 ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments.
 SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2006 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) amount in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow harvest of Pacific cod that will not be harvested under the State of Alaska's guideline harvest level (GHL) for the Aleutian Islands subarea state waters Pacific cod fishery. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (FMP).
 DATES: Effective September 19, 2006, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2007. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., October 4, 2006.
 ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, Attn: Ellen Walsh. Comments may be submitted by: Mail to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
                    Hand delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska;
                    FAX to 907-586-7557;
                    E-mail to*statepcodrelb@noaa.gov*
                         and include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the document identifier: statepcodrelb (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes); or
                    Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal:*http://www.regulations.gov*. Follow the instructions at that site for submitting comments.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Keaton, 907-586-7228.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI according to the FMP prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679. The 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006) established the 2006 and 2007 Pacific cod acceptable biological catches (ABC) as 194,000 metric tons (mt) and 148,000 mt, respectively. The TACs were set equal to the ABCs for Pacific cod in the BSAI. On March 14, 2006, NMFS reduced the Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced by emergency regulation a Pacific cod GHL, west of 170 degrees west longitude in the Aleutian Islands subarea, equal to three percent of the Pacific cod ABC in the BSAI (71 FR 13777, March 17, 2006). On August 28, 2006, ADF&G announced the closure of the 2006 state waters Pacific cod fishery, west of 170 degrees west longitude in the Aleutian Islands subarea, effective 11:59 a.m. A.l.t., September 1, 2006. As of September 1, 2006, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) has determined that ADF&G is making available 1,588 mt of unharvested Pacific cod from the Aleutian Islands state waters Pacific cod fishery to the federal Pacific cod fisheries. As a result, the Regional Administrator has determined, using the best scientific information available, that the current 2006 TAC is incorrectly specified because the transfer of unharvested state waters GHL in the Aleutian Islands subarea to the federally managed fisheries requires an increase to the 2006 TAC of Pacific cod in the BSAI. This action will not exceed the 
                    ( print page 55348)
                    2006 ABC of Pacific cod in the BSAI established in the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006). Therefore, in accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), (a)(2)(i)(B) and (a)(2)(iv), the Regional Administrator adjusts the 2006 Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7), Tables 1, 2, 5, 12, and 14 of the 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI (71 FR 10894, March 3, 2006) and adjustment (71 FR 13777, March 17, 2006) are revised for the 2006 Pacific cod TAC consistent with this adjustment.
                    ( print page 55349) TABLE 1—2006 AND 2007 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Area
2006
2007OFL
ABC
TAC
ITAC2
CDQ3
OFL
ABC
TAC
ITAC2
CDQ3Pollock4
BS2
2,090,000
1,930,000
1,485,000
1,336,500
148,500
1,930,000
1,790,000
1,500,000
1,350,000
150,000AI2
39,100
29,400
19,000
17,100
1,900
39,100
29,400
19,000
17,100
1,900Bogoslof
50,600
5,500
10
10
n/a
50,600
5,500
10
10
n/aPacific cod
BSAI
230,000
194,000
189,768
161,302
14,233
176,000
148,000
143,560
122,026
10,767Sablefish5
BS
3,680
3,060
2,820
2,327
388
3,260
2,700
2,700
1,148
101AI
3,740
3,100
3,000
2,438
499
3,300
2,740
2,740
582
51Atka mackerel
BSAI
130,000
110,000
63,000
53,550
4,725
107,000
91,000
63,000
53,550
4,725EAI/BS
n/a
21,780
7,500
6,375
563
n/a
18,020
7,500
6,375
563CAI
n/a
46,860
40,000
34,000
3,000
n/a
38,760
38,000
32,300
2,850WAI
n/a
41,360
15,500
13,175
1,163
n/a
34,220
17,500
14,875
1,313Yellowfin sole
BSAI
144,000
121,000
95,701
81,346
7,178
137,000
116,000
107,641
91,495
8,073Rock sole
BSAI
150,000
126,000
41,500
35,275
3,113
145,000
122,000
44,000
37,400
3,300Greenland turbot
BSAI
14,200
2,740
2,740
2,329
206
13,400
2,630
2,630
2,236
197BS
n/a
1,890
1,890
1,607
142
n/a
1,815
1,815
1,543
136AI
n/a
850
850
723
64
n/a
815
815
693
61Arrowtooth flounder
BSAI
166,000
136,000
13,000
11,050
975
174,000
142,000
18,000
15,300
1,350Flathead sole
BSAI
71,800
59,800
19,500
16,575
1,463
67,900
56,600
22,000
18,700
1,650Other flatfish6
BSAI
24,200
18,100
3,500
2,975
263
24,200
18,100
5,000
4,250
375Alaska plaice
BSAI
237,000
188,000
8,000
6,800
600
231,000
183,000
15,000
12,750
1,125Pacific ocean perch
BSAI
17,600
14,800
12,600
10,710
945
17,600
14,800
14,800
12,580
1,110BS
n/a
2,960
1,400
1,190
105
n/a
2,960
2,960
2,516
222EAI
n/a
3,256
3,080
2,618
231
n/a
3,256
3,256
2,768
244CAI
n/a
3,212
3,035
2,580
228
n/a
3,212
3,212
2,730
241WAI
n/a
5,372
5,085
4,322
381
n/a
5,375
5,372
4,566
403Northern rockfish
BSAI
10,100
8,530
4,500
3,825
338
9,890
8,320
5,000
4,250
375Shortraker rockfish
BSAI
774
580
580
493
44
774
580
580
493
44Rougheye rockfish
BSAI
299
224
224
190
17
299
224
224
190
17Other rockfish7
BSAI
1,870
1,400
1,050
893
79
1,870
1,400
1,400
1,190
105BS
n/a
810
460
391
35
n/a
810
810
689
61AI
n/a
590
590
502
44
n/a
590
590
502
44Squid
BSAI
2,620
1,970
1,275
1,084
n/a
2,620
1,970
1,275
1,084
n/aOther species8
BSAI
89,404
58,882
29,000
24,650
2,175
89,404
62,950
27,000
22,950
2,025TOTAL

3,476,987
3,013,086
1,995,768
1,771,423
187,641
3,224,217
2,799,914
1,995,560
1,769,284
187,2901
                        These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.2
                        Except for pollock and the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for each species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.3
                        Except for pollock, squid and the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of sablefish, one half of the amount of the TACs placed in reserve, or 7.5 percent of the TACs, is designated as a CDQ reserve for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(iii) and 679.31).4
                        Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(
                        *1*), the annual Bering Sea pollock TAC after subtraction for the CDQ directed fishing allowance - 10 percent and the ICA - 3.35 percent, is further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: inshore - 50 percent; catcher/processor - 40 percent; and motherships - 10 percent. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(
                        *2*)(
                        *i*) and (
                        *ii*), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance - 10 percent and second for the ICA - 1,800 mt, is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.5
                        Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear and 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(iii)).6
                         “Other flatfish” includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder and Alaska plaice.7
                         “Other rockfish” includes all 
                        *Sebastes*
                         and 
                        *Sebastolobus*
                         species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.8
                        “Other species” includes sculpins, sharks, skates and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at § 679.2, are not included in the “other species” category.
 
 
 TABLE 2—2006 AND 2007 APPORTIONMENT OF RESERVES TO ITAC CATEGORIES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species—area or subarea
2006 Reserve amount
2006 Final ITAC
2007 Reserve amount
2007 Final ITACAtka mackerel--Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea
563
6,938
563
6,938Atka mackerel--Central Aleutian District
3,000
37,000
2,850
35,150Atka mackerel--Western Aleutian District
1,163
14,338
1,313
16,188Pacific ocean perch--Eastern Aleutian District
231
2,849
244
3,012Pacific ocean perch--Central Aleutian District
228
2,808
241
2,971Pacific ocean perch--Western Aleutian District
381
4,703
403
4,969Pacific cod--BSAI
14,233
175,535
10,767
132,793Shortraker rockfish BSAI
44
537
44
537Rougheye rockfish BSAI
17
207
17
207Northern rockfish-BSAI
338
4,163
375
4,625Other rockfish--Bering Sea subarea
35
426
61
750Total
20,233
249,504
16,878
208,140
 TABLE 5—2006 AND 2007 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD ITAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Gear Sector
Percent
2006 Share of gear sector total
2006 Subtotal percentages for gear sectors
2006 Share of gear sector total
2006 Seasonal apportionment1
2007 Share of gear sector total
2007 Subtotal percentages for gear sectors
2007 Share of gear sector total
2007 Seasonal apportionment1Date
Amount
Date
AmountTotal hook-and-line/pot gear
51
89,523
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
67,724
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aHook-and-line/pot ICA
n/a
n/a
n/a
500
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
500
n/a
n/aHook-and-line/pot sub-total
n/a
89,023
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
67,224
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aHook-and-line C/P
n/a
n/a
80
71,218
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Jun 10-Dec 31
42,731
                             28,487
n/a
80
53,780
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Jun 10-Dec 31
32,268
                             21,512Hook-and-line CV
n/a
n/a
0.3
267
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Jun 10-Dec 31
160
                             107
n/a
0.3
202
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Jun 10-Dec 31
121
                             81Pot C/P
n/a
n/a
3.3
2,938
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Sept 1-Dec 31
1,763
                             1,175
n/a
3.3
2,218
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Sept 1-Dec 31
1,331
                             887Pot CV
n/a
n/a
15
13,354
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Sept 1-Dec 31
8,012
                             5,342
n/a
15
10,084
Jan 1-Jun 10
                             Sept 1-Dec 31
6,050
                             4,033CV < 60 feet LOA using Hook-and-line or Pot gear
n/a
n/a
1.4
1,246
n/a
n/a
n/a
1.4
941
n/a
n/aTotal Trawl Gear
47
82,502
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
62,413
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aTrawl CV


50
41,251
Jan 20-Apr 1
28,876

50
31,206
Jan 20-Apr 1
21,844n/a
Apr 1-Jun 10
4,125


n/a
Apr 1-Jun 10
3,121n/a
Jun 10-Nov 1
8,250


n/a
Jun 10-Nov 1
6,241Trawl CP


50
41,251
Jan 20-Apr 1
20,626

50
31,206
Jan 20-Apr 1
15,603n/a
Apr 1-Jun 10
12,375


n/a
Apr 1-Jun 10
9,362n/a
Jun 10-Nov 1
8,250


n/a
Jun 10-Nov 1
6,241( print page 55351)Jig
2
3,510
n/a
n/a
Jan 1-Apr 30
1,405
2,656
n/a
n/a
Jan 1-Apr 30
1,062n/a
n/a
Apr 30-Aug 31
701

n/a
n/a
Apr 30-Aug 31
531n/a
n/a
Aug 31-Dec 31
1,404

n/a
n/a
Aug 31-Dec 31
1,062Total
100
175,535
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
132,793
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a1
                        For most non-trawl gear the first season is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 40 percent of the ITAC. For jig gear, the first season and third seasons are each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed for the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For trawl gear, the first season is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC and the second and third seasons are each allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. The trawl catcher vessels' allocation is further allocated as 70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. The trawl catcher/processors' allocation is allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. Any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific cod allowance will be reapportioned to the next seasonal allowance.
 TABLE 12—2006 AND 2007 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Target species
Area
1995 - 1997
2006 ITAC available to trawl C/Ps
2006 C/P sideboard limit
2007 ITAC available to trawl C/Ps
2007 C/P sideboard limitRetained catch
Total catch
Ratio of retained catch to total catchPacific cod trawl
BSAI
12,424
48,177
0.258
41,251
10,643
31,206
8,051Sablefish trawl
BS
8
497
0.016
1,199
19
1,148
18AI
0
145
0.000
638
0
582
0Atka mackerel
Central AI
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aA season1
n/a
n/a
0.115
18,500
2,128
17,575
2,021HLA limit2
n/a
n/a
n/a
11,100
1,277
10,545
1,213B season1
n/a
n/a
0.115
18,500
2,128
17,575
2,021HLA limit2
n/a
n/a
n/a
11,100
1,277
10,545
1,213Western AI
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aA season1
n/a
n/a
0.200
7,169
1,434
8,094
1,619HLA limit2
n/a
n/a
n/a
4,301
860
4,856
971B season1
n/a
n/a
0.200
7,169
1,434
8,094
1,619HLA limit2
n/a
n/a
n/a
4,301
860
4,856
971Yellowfin sole
BSAI
100,192
435,788
0.230
81,346
18,710
91,495
21,044Rock sole
BSAI
6,317
169,362
0.037
35,275
1,305
37,400
1,384Greenland turbot
BS
121
17,305
0.007
1,607
11
1,543
11AI
23
4,987
0.005
723
4
693
3Arrowtooth flounder
BSAI
76
33,987
0.002
11,050
22
15,300
31Flathead sole
BSAI
1,925
52,755
0.036
16,575
597
18,700
673Alaska plaice
BSAI
14
9,438
0.001
6,800
7
12,750
13Other flatfish
BSAI
3,058
52,298
0.058
2,975
173
4,250
247Pacific ocean perch
BS
12
4,879
0.002
1,190
2
2,516
5Eastern AI
125
6,179
0.020
2,849
57
3,012
60Central AI
3
5,698
0.001
2,808
3
2,971
3Western AI
54
13,598
0.004
4,703
19
4,969
20Northern rockfish
BSAI
91
13,040
0.007
4,163
29
4,625
32Shortraker rockfish
BSAI
50
2,811
0.018
537
10
537
10Rougheye rockfish
BSAI
50
2,811
0.018
207
4
207
4Other rockfish
BS
18
621
0.029
426
12
750
22AI
22
806
0.027
502
14
502
14Squid
BSAI
73
3,328
0.022
1,084
24
1,084
24Other species
BSAI
553
68,672
0.008
24,650
197
22,950
1841
                        The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.2
                         Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see § 679.2). In 2006 and 2007, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
 TABLE 14—2006 AND 2007 BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Fishery by area/season/ processor/gear
Ratio of 1995-1997 AFA CV catch to 1995-1997 TAC
2006 initial TAC
2006 Catcher vessel sideboard limits
2007 initial TAC
2007 Catcher vessel sideboard limitsPacific cod
BSAI
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJig gear
0.0000
3,510
0
2,656
0Hook-and-line CV
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJan 1 - Jun 10
0.0006
160
0
121
0Jun 10 - Dec 31
0.0006
107
0
81
0Pot gear CV
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJan 1 - Jun 10
0.0006
8,013
5
6,050
4Sept 1 - Dec 31
0.0006
5,341
3
4,033
2CV < 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear
0.0006
1,245
1
941
1Trawl gear CV
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJan 20 - Apr 1
0.8609
28,876
24,859
21,844
18,805Apr 1 - Jun 10
0.8609
4,125
3,551
3,121
2,687Jun 10 - Nov 1
0.8609
8,250
7,102
6,241
5,373Sablefish
BS trawl gear
0.0906
1,199
109
1,148
104AI trawl gear
0.0645
638
41
582
38Atka mackerel
Eastern AI/BS
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJig gear
0.0031
69
0
69
0Other gear
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJan 1 - Apr 15
0.0032
3,434
11
3,434
11Sept 1 - Nov 1
0.0032
3,434
11
3,434
11Central AI
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJan - Apr 15
0.0001
18,500
2
17,575
2HLA limit
0.0001
11,100
1
10,545
1Sept 1 - Nov 1
0.0001
18,500
2
17,575
2HLA limit
0.0001
11,100
1
10,545
1Western AI
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/aJan - Apr 15
0.0000
7,169
0
8,094
0HLA limit
n/a
4,301
0
4,856
0Sept 1 - Nov 1
0.0000
7,169
0
8,094
0HLA limit
n/a
4,301
0
4,856
0Yellowfin sole
BSAI
0.0647
81,346
5,263
91,495
5,920Rock sole
BSAI
0.0341
35,275
1,203
37,400
1,275Greenland Turbot
BS
0.0645
1,607
104
1,543
100AI
0.0205
723
15
693
14Arrowtooth flounder
BSAI
0.0690
11,050
762
15,300
1,056Alaska plaice
BSAI
0.0441
6,800
300
12,750
562Other flatfish
BSAI
0.0441
2,975
131
4,250
187Pacific ocean perch
BS
0.1000
1,190
119
2,516
252Eastern AI
0.0077
2,849
22
3,012
23Central AI
0.0025
2,808
7
2,971
7Western AI
0.0000
4,703
0
4,969
0Northern rockfish
BSAI
0.0084
4,163
35
4,625
39Shortraker rockfish
BSAI
0.0037
537
2
537
2Rougheye rockfish
BSAI
0.0037
207
1
207
1Other rockfish
BS
0.0048
426
2
750
4AI
0.0095
502
5
502
5Squid
BSAI
0.3827
1,084
415
1,084
415Other species
BSAI
0.0541
24,650
1,334
22,950
1,242Flathead Sole
BS trawl gear
0.0505
16,575
837
18,700
944
 Classification This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), finds good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. This requirement is impracticable and contrary to the public interest as it would prevent NMFS from responding to the most recent fisheries data in a timely fashion and would delay the adjustment of the 2006 Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI. ADF&G announced the closure of the state waters Pacific cod fishery in the Aleutian Islands subarea, effective 11:59 a.m., A.l.t, September 1, 2006. Since the 2006 fisheries are currently underway, it is necessary to immediately adjust the TACs to allow harvest of additional Pacific cod in the BSAI. Immediate adjustment is necessary to allow for the orderly conduct and efficient operation of this fishery, allow the industry to 
                    ( print page 55353)
                    plan for the remainder of the 2006 fishing season, and avoid potential disruption to the fishing fleet and processors. The AA also finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). This finding is based upon the reasons provided above for waiver of prior notice and opportunity for public comment. Under § 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until October 4, 2006. This action is required by § 679.20 and § 679.25 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority:
                    16 U.S.C. 1801 
                        *et seq.* Dated: September 18, 2006. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.


[FR Doc. 06-8074 Filed 9-19-06; 1:45 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S